Body Awareness - Page 2 of 9

Double Cup Balloon Bop

Steps:

Blow up a balloon and tie it securely to get things started.
Give your child two sturdy paper cups to use as paddles.
Have them hold one cup in each hand while standing in an open space.
Toss the balloon gently into the air to begin the game.
Ask your child to tap the balloon up using the bottom of either cup.
Challenge them to alternate hands by hitting it with the left cup and then the right.
See how many times they can keep the balloon in the air before it hits the ground!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children during balloon play. Broken balloon pieces are a choking hazard and should be picked up and discarded immediately.

The Cardboard Box Texture Tunnel

Steps:

Use masking tape to connect two large boxes to create a long, sturdy tunnel.
Cut the flaps off both ends so your child has a clear path to crawl through.
Use tape to secure different pieces of fabric to the bottom of the tunnel.
Stick several soft cotton balls to the inner walls of the box using glue or tape.
Encourage your child to crawl through the tunnel and touch the various textures.
Talk about the sensations, asking if the walls feel soft, fuzzy, or smooth.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: Cotton balls are small parts. Always supervise your toddler closely and ensure they do not pull them off to put in their mouth.

Heavy Roll Cotton Sweep

Steps:

Adult: Fill an empty paper roll halfway with dry rice.
Use several layers of masking tape to seal the ends.
Child: Stand up and hold the roll with both hands.
Place a few cotton balls on a smooth floor.
Use the heavy roll to push the balls toward the basket.
Try to keep the roll straight so the balls don’t escape.
Reach the basket to win the game!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your toddler during play. Small rice grains are a choking hazard. Ensure the tape is very secure.

Post-It Path Finder

Steps:

Place a long strip of masking tape on a clear floor area to create a straight ‘tightrope’ path.
Stick several colorful Post-Its on the wall at your child’s eye level along the length of the tape path.
Ask your child to stand at the start of the tape line and hold a single block with both hands.
Challenge your child to walk slowly along the tape line without letting their feet step off the sticky path.
While they are walking, call out a color that matches one of the Post-Its on the wall.
Your child must find the matching color with their eyes and point to it with one hand without stopping their walk.
Repeat the process until they reach the end of the line, calling out different colors as they go.

Safety Tip:
Always ensure the floor is clear of toys and that the walking path is a safe distance away from sharp furniture corners.

The Space Station Balloon Squeeze

Steps:

Blow up a balloon and tie it securely.
Place two large boxes on the floor about six inches apart.
Tell your child the balloon is a spaceship that needs to go through the narrow space station.
Ask them to push the balloon through the gap using only their elbows.
Once they succeed, move the boxes slightly closer together to make it harder.
Challenge them to push the balloon through using a slow-motion crawl.
Next, have them try to pull the balloon back through the gap using their feet!
This helps them learn how much pressure is needed to move the balloon.
Repeat the maze three times and cheer for every successful mission!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is always required when playing with balloons. If a balloon pops, pick up the broken pieces immediately to keep your child safe.